The Best Boxing Gloves To Pack a Punch in 2024
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If you’re ready to get serious about boxing, having the right gloves is an essential part of training. While it may look like boxing gloves are all the same, different types of gloves have very different purposes.
Using the wrong glove is less than ideal at best, and potentially dangerous in worst-case situations. To help you safely enjoy your experience with the sweet science, we’ve put together a complete guide to the best boxing gloves. Our list covers everything from sparring to kickboxing and includes products from some of the best boxing glove brands worldwide.
We've also included advice on how to choose the best boxing gloves for you, from picking the right size to adding hand wraps. Keep reading to find out how the right gloves can turn every workout into a knockout and help you reach your goals, whether it's competition or just getting into fighting form.
Our Picks for the Best Boxing Gloves of 2024:
- Best Overall Boxing Gloves: Byakko Boxing Gloves
- Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners: Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
- Best Boxing Gloves for Women: Everlast Women’s Pro Style Training Gloves
- Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Workouts: Cleto Reyes Hook & Loop Training Gloves
- Best Boxing Gloves for Sparring: Gold BJJ Foundation Boxing Gloves
- Best Boxing Gloves for Wrist Support: Byakko Boxing Gloves
- Best Kickboxing Gloves: Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves
- Best Budget Boxing Gloves: Fiving Boxing Gloves
Best Overall Boxing Gloves: Byakko Boxing Gloves
SI Showcase + Byakko
- Key features: Dual wrist straps, temperature-regulated lining, and microfiber thumb to easily wipe away sweat.
- Glove weight: 10, 12, 14 or 16 ounces
- Material: Premium-grade cowhide leather
- Price: $69.97
The Byakko Boxing Gloves are made from triple-layered cowhide, and each pair is crafted by hand. The triple stitching, thick padding and durable exterior boast premium quality for an affordable price.
These gloves have 20 millimeters of palm padding made of high-density foam that has a strong cell structure for long-term durability. The interior is moisture-wicking and the palm has a breathable mesh section so air can flow through. There are four weight options: 10, 12, 14 or 16 ounces.
The wrist closure system has long cuffs that provide a snug and comfortable fit so the gloves stay in place, even during the toughest workouts. These wrist cuffs are secured by Velcro for easy on and off and are three inches long for extra support and security.
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Pros:
- Velcro wrist closures are easy to adjust
- Cowhide exterior can withstand frequent use
- Moisture wicking interior
Cons:
- Only three color options to choose from
Best Boxing Gloves for Beginners: Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
SI Showcase + Venum
- Key features: Comfortable padding, high-quality stitching and a full attached thumb for maximum safety.
- Glove weight: 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 ounces
- Material: Premium semi-leather
- Price: $57.11—$157.30, depending on size and color
Venum Elite Boxing Gloves get the nod as our best boxing gloves for beginners, due to their versatility and comfortable padding. Their Velcro strap makes them easy to adjust, and mesh panels provide ventilation for your hands.
The gloves feature dense foam padding, as well as a fully-attached thumb, designed to keep you as comfortable and safe as possible. You don’t have to worry about your thumb slipping out of position—an especially important consideration for inexperienced boxers—during sparring or training sessions.
The wide variety of weight ranges allows you to choose a great fit, and they work well for both sparring and bag training. Each pair is hand-stitched in Thailand, providing a high-quality glove built to last, and with 19 color options, you’re sure to find a pair of gloves that you like.
Pros:
- Versatile, padded design that protects your hands and wrists from injury
- Mesh panel provides ventilation
Cons:
- The thick padding may not allow some users to “feel” their punches land properly when training with a bag
Best Boxing Gloves for Women: Everlast Women’s Pro Style Training Gloves
SI Showcase + Everlast
- Key features: Easily adjustable strap and naturally contoured shape to fit the wrist.
- Glove weight: 12 or 14 ounces
- Material: 80 percent Polyurethane/20 percent polyester
- Price: $23.49
Developed by one of the best boxing brands in the world, the Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves are an excellent choice for nearly any style of training. The Women-Specific Design (WSD) takes the female athlete's hand and wrist into account. The gloves' reinforced padding is designed to provide a secure, supportive and stable fit.
A simple, easy-to-adjust Velcro wrist strap makes tweaking the fit a breeze. The curved, anatomical shape is designed to fit comfortably and help you maintain good form, and there’s enough padding to absorb the blow of each punch, keeping your hands protected.
The gloves are available in 12 and 14 ounces, so you don’t have as many choices as other brands, but most users should have no problem with these gloves, especially if you’re primarily training with a bag, or doing some light sparring.
Pros:
- Thick padding to protect your hands
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Only two sizes, so advanced boxers may not be able to get the exact weight they require
Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Workouts: Cleto Reyes Hook and Loop Training Gloves
SI Showcase + Cleto Reyes
- Key features: Water-repellant lining, latex foam padding and a simple hook and loop strap.
- Glove weight: 12, 14, 16 or 18 ounces
- Material: Goatskin leather
- Price: $179–$209
Heavy duty training requires sturdy, reliable gloves to keep your hands safe and padded, and the Cleto Reyes Hook and Loop Training Gloves were designed specifically for heavy bag work and intense sparring.
The latex foam padding was designed to last, so it should hold up with repeated use. Although some experienced boxers might prefer less padding when training with heavy bags, that approach isn't for everyone. Padding provides an extra measure of protection against injury (including the dreaded boxer's fracture.)
The water-resistant internal lining helps prevent sweat from absorbing into the padding, which will help keep away the musky smell from frequent use. With 23 color options and multiple sizes, the Cleto Reyes Hook and Loop gloves are one of the most versatile items on our list.
Pros:
- Made from durable materials
- Wide range of colors and weights available
Cons:
- Not suitable for those who want a lightweight set of gloves
Best Boxing Gloves for Sparring: Gold BJJ Foundation Boxing Gloves
SI Showcase + Gold BJJ
- Key features: Ventilated palm, extra wrist support and hand wraps are included with each order.
- Glove weight: 10, 12, 14 or 16 ounces
- Material: Faux leather
- Price: $49.95
The Gold BJJ Foundation glove is versatile, affordable and specifically designed to use with nearly any sort of boxing, Muay Thai or MMA training. Extra wrist support and included hand wraps allow you to properly protect yourself during intense sparring, and built-in air vents are designed to keep your hands cool and comfortable. The single hook and loop strap is easy to adjust on the fly, allowing you to maintain a secure fit.
If you need gloves for heavy sparring, Gold BJJ has some of the best 16-ounce boxing gloves around. They're also available in 10-, 12- and 14-ounce sizes, so light sparring is covered too.
The Gold BJJ Foundation gloves only come in two colors, black and white, but that’s the only knock. For the price, it’s hard to find a better pair of sparring gloves.
Pros:
- Extra wrist support and ventilated palms
- Suitable for boxing, Muay Thai or MMA training
Cons:
- With only two basic colors, black and white, some may find the Gold BJJ a bit bland for their taste
Best Boxing Gloves for Wrist Support: Byakko Boxing Gloves
SI Showcase + Byakko
- Key features: Dual wrist straps secured by hook and loop system, attached thumb and protective foam padding
- Glove weight: 10, 12, 14, or 16 ounces
- Material: Premium-grade cowhide leather
- Price: $69.97
Byakko knows wrist protection is important, and as anyone who’s boxed for a while knows, throwing an awkward punch or hitting on the wrong angle can easily lead to a sprained wrist.
The extra-long wrist cuff with a simple hook and loop closure provides maximum wrist support, and 20-millimeter palm padding provides a nice cushion.
Each pair of Byakko Boxing Gloves are made by hand to cushion and cradle the hand as it absorbs impact.
Pros
- Above-average wrist support and cushioning
- Triple-layered cowhide leather
Cons
- Thick padding may feel bulky
Best Kickboxing Gloves: Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves
SI Showcase + Everlast
- Key features: Sizes go as low as eight ounces, perfect for high-intensity fitness training.
- Glove weight: 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 ounces
- Material: Synthetic leather
- Price: $24.85–$99.99, depending on size and color
While most of the gloves on this list are designed to be very versatile, sometimes you need to specialize, especially when it comes to kickboxing for fitness.
Mixing both punches and kicks means you’ll want something lightweight on your hands, especially when you’re not sparring, and Everlast is one of the few brands that offer a weight lower than 10 ounces.
If you’re sparring, you’ll want to use a heavier weight to protect your opponent, but if you’re taking kickboxing-style workout classes and aren’t hitting a person, the eight ounces will allow you to move quickly and stay agile.
A full mesh palm allows your hands to breathe, and Everlast uses a special anti-microbial treatment to keep your gloves fresh and odor-free.
Pros:
- Lightweight and heavyweight options
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Not suitable for those who want more cushioning
Best Budget Boxing Gloves: Fiving Boxing Gloves
SI Showcase + Fiving
- Key features: Extra thick wrist strap, triple-layered and inner side has breathable mesh
- Glove weight: 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 ounces
- Material: Polyurethane (PU) leather
- Price: $19.99–$25.99 depending on weight
If you’re just getting started and don’t want to invest too much, or you’re working with a strict budget, we suggest the Fiving Boxing Gloves. At under $26, these are the most affordable gloves on our list.
Multi-layered foam padding provides a comfortable cushion for your knuckles, and a breathable mesh lining in the palm helps sweat evaporate. The synthetic leather allows these gloves to be easily cleaned, and the ventilation allows them to properly air dry quickly between uses.
These gloves are available in black, white or green and will get the job done without breaking the bank.
Pros:
- Ventilated palm for breathability
- Durable synthetic exterior is easy to clean
Cons:
- Some Amazon users reported that the gloves feel a bit bulky
What To Look for in a Pair of Boxing Gloves
Material
The outer material won’t make a huge difference, but you should figure out what sort of interior lining you like to use when training.
Some gloves use water-resistant lining to prevent the padding from absorbing your sweat, though this may result in sweatier hands and slippery gloves. Other styles of gloves are designed with cooling fabrics to keep you comfortable, though more sweat may absorb into the padding over time.
Intended use
Different goals require different gloves, so if you plan to specialize in a certain style of training, it’s worth choosing the right pair.
Lighter gloves are generally better for training with a heavy punching bag, or general fitness classes and cardiovascular work. You want to be able to stay fast and agile, and the lighter padding allows you to feel your punches land, making sure you’re using good form.
With heavier gloves, not only will the weight slow you down, but the thicker padding means you won’t be able to feel your hands making contact with the bag. Many boxers like to feel the way their hands are hitting the bag, which may be difficult with too much padding.
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Cost
It’s important to set your budget ahead of time and be careful to only shop within your budget, as prices can become quite steep. Gloves can cost as little as $25 or as much as $200, but there are great options for any budget. You shouldn’t feel like you need to spend hundreds of dollars for a quality pair of boxing gloves, and you can always start cheap and upgrade down the road if your needs change.
How to Find the Right Size Boxing Gloves
Boxing gloves are unique in that they are sized by the weight of the glove, so you’re not choosing small, medium, or large–you’re choosing by weight
Generally speaking, lighter weights are best for light training and bag work, and medium to heavy gloves are best for sparring or heavy-duty training. You can also choose based on your body weight, going for a lighter weight if you’re smaller, or a heavier weight if you’re a larger person.
How to Break in a Pair of Boxing Gloves
New gloves are often stiff, so it’s important to break them in properly before sparring. We suggest massaging each glove for several minutes and then using them for a training session with the heavy bag.
If your hands feel sore, or you develop blisters or discomfort, take a break for a few minutes. There’s no rush, and it’s better to get your gloves broken in ahead of time before you find they’re stiff and painful in a live sparring session.
As You Consider Gloves, Don't Forget Hand Wraps
Although they might be under-appreciated, hand wraps are another vital part of boxing gear. Boxing wraps provide another layer (or in some cases multiple layers) of protection for the bones, tendons, joints and ligaments in your hands. They also help support your wrists and can prevent the skin on your knuckles from getting irritated.
Most professionals use the traditional wrapping style that involves rolls of gauze and layers of tape. For the rest of us, luckily, premade hand wraps that use fiber and elastic material are widely available.
Some boxing gloves, including a couple of the products featured here, include hand wraps. You can also buy them separately from boxing brands, sporting equipment stores and online retailers. Depending on the size and brand, retail prices for boxing wraps typically range from $10 to $30.
Boxing Gloves FAQs
How do I find my boxing glove size?
The correct size you’ll need depends on your own size and training goals.
If you’re ever going to spar with a partner, most boxing gyms require at least 14-ounce gloves for partner sessions. When fighting professionally, you’ll want to use competition gloves that have less padding, so your opponent feels each punch more.
If you’re training primarily with a bag, you can select your size based on your body weight. Most manufacturers will have charts to help you select the perfect size for your body weight.
What boxing gloves do the pros use?
Professionals tend to use lighter gloves with less padding, especially during fights. Their main goal is to damage their opponent, so they’ll want to use as little padding as possible.
When training in the gym, heavier gloves are fine, as the shock absorption can help keep their hands free from bruising.
Do heavier gloves hurt more?
This is a very common misconception. Heavier gloves typically have even more padding and cushioning. If you’re sparring with a bigger person who can punch harder, it may hurt more, but the extra padding should help cushion most blows.
Final Thoughts
While boxing gloves tend to be very similar, we highly recommend choosing the size and style that most closely matches your goals. Whether you’re looking for heavily-added gloves for training at the gym, or lightweight fight gloves for competition, you’re sure to find the perfect pair in this guide.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
